Dances have always been significant in the lives of
Native
Americans as both a common amusement and a solemn duty. Many
dances played a vital role in religious rituals and other
ceremonies;
while others were held to guarantee the success of hunts, harvests, giving
thanks, and other celebrations.

Commonly, dances were held in a large structure or in an open field around
a fire. Movements of the participants illustrated the purpose of the dance
-- expressing prayer, victory, thanks, mythology and more. Sometimes a
leader was chosen, on others, a specific individual, such as a war leader
or medicine man would lead the dance. Many tribes danced only to the sound
of a drum and their own voices; while others incorporated bells and
rattles. Some dances included solos, while others included songs with a
leader and chorus. Participants might include the entire tribe, or would
specific to men, women, or families. In addition to public dances, there
were also private and semi-public dances for healing, prayer, initiation,
storytelling, and courting.

Dance continues to be an important part of
Native
American culture. The
dances are
regionally or tribally specific and the singers usually perform in their
native languages. Depending upon the dance, sometimes visitors are
welcomed; while, at other times, the ceremonies are private.

This list of dances is far from all encompassing, as there were literally
hundreds of dances and variations across the continent.

There were a number of semi-religious festivals or
ceremonies in which a
large number of individuals participated which were handed from one tribe
to another. One of the best known examples of the
Plains Indians was the
Omaha or Grass Dance which was also practiced by the
Arapaho, Pawnee,
Omaha, Dakota, Crow, Gros Ventre, Assiniboin, and Blackfoot. Its regalia
is thought to have originated with the Pawnee, who taught the dance to the
Dakota Sioux in about 1870. The Sioux, in turn, shared it with the
Arapaho
and Gros Ventre, who taught it to the Blackfoot. Later, the Blackfoot
carried the dance to the Flathead and Kootenai tribes to the west.

Meetings of these associations were held at night in large circular wooden
buildings erected for that purpose. Some of the dancers wore large feather
bustles, called crow belts, and a peculiar roached headdress made of hair.
A feast of dog's flesh was often served. Members of some of these
associations were often known to have helped the poor and practice acts of
self-denial.

Other dances, such as the Cree Dance,
Gourd Dance, and horseback dances
also had associations. However, from tribe to tribe, each had its own
distinct ceremonies and songs, to which additions were made from time to
time.

Not
a historical dance tradition of any tribe, the Fancy Dance was created by
members of the Ponca tribe in the 1920s and 1930s, in an attempt to
preserve their culture and religion. At this time,
Native
American
religious dances were outlawed by the United States and Canadian
governments. Traditional dances went "underground," to avoid government
detection. However, this dance, loosely based on the traditional War
Dance, was considered appropriate to be performed for visitors on
reservations and at "Wild West" shows. Two young Ponca boys are
specifically credited with developing the fast-paced dance that the
audiences loved and the Ponca Tribe soon built their own dance arena in
White Eagle, Oklahoma.

Within no time, other tribes continued the practice and created new dances
that could legally be danced in public. In the 1930's, the
Kiowa and
Comanche created new styles of dance regalia that was incorporated into
the Fancy Dance.

Even before the Fancy Dance was established, an intertribal
Pow-Wow circuit
had already been organized where various tribes held dance contests. These
became an important source of revenue during the Great Depression.
In the late 1930's, women also began to perform in the Fancy Dance

The
dance is fast paced, colorful, and highly energetic, often including
tricks and extremely athletic movements. Dancing regalia includes brightly
colored feather bustles and headwear, beaded bodices, leggings, shawls,
and moccasins. Clothes are also decorated with fringe, feathers,
embroidery or ribbon work, and other rich designs. Beaded cuffs, chokers,
earrings, bracelets, and eagle plumes are also worn. Fancy dancers are the
most commonly scene in public exhibitions today and the dance has also
became a competitive sport.